South Africa: Despite crime fears, visitor numbers increase 20 per cent
The South African tourism ministry has claimed that it is the fastest-growing destination in the world, after the number of overseas arrivals rose by some 20 per cent last year.
Despite worrying figures over crime in South Africa and a general downturn in long-haul travel, more than 1.8 million people from overseas visited South Africa last year. According to the BBC News website, South African Tourism said the sector has been boosted by the Cricket World Cup, as well as the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg last year.
Cheryl Carolus, of South African Tourism, said that the country was also taking steps to improve its reputation as a country affected by high crime rates: “Where you have poverty, you will have crime. So for us, one element of dealing with our concerns around crime is making sure there are credible jobs so that people are employed. Our policing efforts have also been stepped up.”
